Interview Emmy Laybourne (en anglais)

Why did you want to write Monument 14 ? Why this subject ?

I think the seed of the Monument 14 series comes from two of my great loves: survivalist planning and superstores! I love to wander the aisles of superstores, checking out the goods and seeing how I would set up camp in the store, if I had to.

And I’ve always enjoyed “worst case scenario” thinking. It’s the worrier in me, but I’m always thinking of how I will save my kids lives if we’re in some terrible crisis...

I put those together and there was the central idea of Monument 14 -- fourteen kids stranded in a superstore while civilization collapses.


Where are you working ?

I work in a tiny office I rent from a local Waldorf Teacher Training college. It's a beautiful little room with cream colored walls and a view of a creek bordered by small trees. It's all mine and I love it!


Is Monument 14 your first story?

Yes, Monument 14 is my first novel.


How long does it take to write your book ?

It takes me between 5-8 months. Then another 1-2 months for editing.

 

Do you think looking like one of the children stuck in the supermarket ?

I think that I would most resemble Dean and Alex. To tell the truth, I sort of think of those two as my sons!

 

Would you like to live what the characters live in the supermarket? Was this a plan before writing your story or not ?

I would never want to live through what my characters live through - and I hope none of us ever have to!

 

Are you writing books specially for young adults or are you also writing books for young children or adults ?

I am only writing for Young Adults right now. I do have ideas for a series for younger kids, but right now, it's enough for me to write one YA book a year.

 

Do you have a specific writing technique that you use when you write?

I work from a detailed outline. Each day, as I finish work for the day, I read about the scene I'll be working on the next day. That way, as I go about my family life in the afternoon, and get ready for bed in the evening, the scene is playing out in the back of my mind. When I get to my office in the morning, the scene is almost always ready to be written !
 
Interview d'Emmy Laybourne pour Lecturados. 2014. © Copie interdite.